Although the U.S. market is only now receiving the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, this retro-styled electric minivan has been available in Europe for a few years.
In an effort to make this zero-emission family vehicle more affordable, VW has introduced a new entry-level trim called the Freestyle.
However, based on images from the German configurator, you’ll need to accept several compromises to make it attainable.
The ID. Buzz Freestyle comes with basic 18-inch steel wheels, fitted with 235/60 R18 tires in the front and 255/55 R18 tires in the rear.
This setup is reminiscent of other electric vehicles from VW’s MEB platform, such as the Audi Q4 E-Tron, which also surprised many by featuring 19-inch steel wheels with hubcaps.
If you prefer alloy wheels, Volkswagen offers a couple of 19-inch options, but they’ll cost you about €2,500 ($2,800) extra.
The Freestyle trim is only available in a basic Candy White paint at no additional charge, but for an extra €1,035 ($1,150), you can opt for the metallic Moon Silver. Regardless of your color choice, the ID.
Buzz Freestyle features unpainted bumpers, giving it a look reminiscent of the 1980s. In addition, VW has added side decals, which are included at no extra cost, though these retro details may not appeal to everyone.
Inside, the interior continues the theme of austerity with simple cloth seats that wouldn’t look out of place in an old base model Golf Mk4.
However, the Freestyle still comes with modern conveniences like a large 12.9-inch touchscreen tablet, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other standard features include height-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.
While the U.S. only gets the long-wheelbase version of the ID. Buzz, European customers can opt for the standard wheelbase, which is the version reviewed here.
It comes equipped with a 59-kWh battery pack placed between the axles, powering a rear electric motor that generates 170 horsepower—about half the power of the sportier GTX trim.
With 229 pound-feet of torque, the European entry-level ID. Buzz takes 10.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph, and its top speed is limited to 90 mph.
Given its nearly 5,300-pound curb weight and single-motor configuration, it’s no surprise that this version isn’t particularly fast. When the battery runs low, recharging from 10% to 80% using DC fast charging takes around 24 minutes.
At a starting price of €49,997, the Freestyle is about €4,000 cheaper than the previous base model, the ID. Buzz Pure.
Converting this to U.S. dollars, the base price comes out to roughly $55,663, which makes it almost $6,000 cheaper than the base model ID. Buzz in the U.S.
However, this price difference is influenced by Germany’s 19% value-added tax (VAT), making a direct comparison less straightforward.
The launch of the sub-€50,000 ID. Buzz in Germany follows closely on the heels of the sub-€30,000 ID.3, a compact electric hatchback not sold in the U.S.
These moves suggest Volkswagen is making a concerted effort to sell more affordable EVs in a cooling European market.
This push likely stems from concerns about meeting increasingly strict fleet emissions targets, which will tighten even further by 2025. Automakers exceeding these thresholds face the risk of hefty fines.